Card punching machines for multisection cards



F. BUCHNER April 19, 1960 CARD PUNCHING MACHINES FOR MULTI-SECTION CARDS Filed June 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 19, 1960 BUCHNER 2,933,134

CARD PUNCHING MACHINES FOR MULTI-SECTION CARDS Filed June 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 19, 1960 F. BUCHNER 2,933,134

CARD PUNCHING MACHINES FOR MULTI-SECTION CARDS Filed June 4, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 By WIX F. BUCHNER April 19, 1960 CARD PUNCHING MACHINES FOR MULTi-SECTION CARDS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed June 4,

IQ mm me e 2 w /w 15% M m M h CARD PUNCHING MACHINES FOR MULTI- SECTION CARDS Frank Biichner, Brannschweig, Germany, assignor to Brunsviga Maschinenwerte Aktiengesellschaft, Braunschweig, Germany Application .lune 4, 1958, Serial No. 739,864

Claims priority, application Germany June 8, 1957 Claims. (Cl. 164-412) The present invention relates to card punching machines intended to punch holes into cards containing a plurality of adjacent sections. The machines may be operated either manually or they may be power driven, or driven by magnetic means.

Machines of this kind are known in various designs, usually featuring an arrangement of card and card feeding carriage which permits only a displacement from column to column along each line. On machines of this l-rnown kind, attempts were made to shift the hole-punching effect of the perforating device from one section containing a series of adjacent lines to a different section by manually operating a selected set of a plurality of keyboard-operated hole-punching sets. Each set controls one section of a multi-section card. Alternatively, a single key-board is displaceably mounted or the operational engagement of a stationary-arranged key-board with a different one of a plurality of hole punching sets is effected. Furthermore, it has been suggested to simultaneously shift a key-board and a hole punching set for one-line coverage of cards.

It is an object of the present invention to simplify the operation of these involved card punching mechanism. The preferred embodiment to be described in the following paragraphs is by way of example and not to be construed as a limitation except as stated in the appended claims.

The card punching arrangement according to the present invention comprises a simple stationary hole-punching device covering the column of one card section only. The card accommodating slot of this hole punching device extends on both ends beyond the punching device to accommodate the total length of the card in the direction of the card columns in all punching positions. Furthermore, the card guiding device is supported under spring pressure by a smooth card table; it is displaceably arranged to feed the card to be punched to the respective line position.

A surprisingly simple arrangement like this has been hitherto unknown. This is perhaps due to the assumption that guiding a card of some (however at least less than in thickness requires a guide projecting beyond the card table marginal zone to avoid jamming of the card margin between the table and the card guide proper. Such an arrangement prevents the transverse displacement of the card guide unless the projecting action had been attempted by cam-type teeth of the card guide engagin transverse grooves on the table. However, the cards may get caught by the edges of the grooves during the escapement motion.

The invention demonstrates the surprising fact that a card guide which is spring-pressed onto or at least nonpositively supported on the surface of a smooth table permits an undisturbed guidance of the thin card without any jamming between the guide and the table; this guide further provides enough clearance to permit the transverse displacement of the card.

The card feeding carriage, operated in a known mannor by the punch keyboard-controlled escapement mechanism, feeds the card (which by resiliently held claws is engaged by the carriage) beneath the punching device and through the various column positions. The carriage may be arranged, as is usual, displaceable only in a direction parallel to the lines on the card despite the novel columnwise feed of the card. The claws are disposed in the direction of the columns on the card extending the width of one section of the card to be punched in one operation and being aligned for this coverage with respect to the punching device.

The card guide provided by the present invention has to give exact guidance in escapement direction on the whole feed path of the card, both to the left and to the right of the punching device. This is accomplished by two rails, spaced by one card width. Each rail comprises two aligned component rail sections to the right and to the left of the punching device; each two sections is connected by one U-s-haped bail encompassing the punching device, each bail being connected to the punching device by a tubular member slotted in downward direction.

The cavity in this tubular member extends parallel to the punching device. It may contain a second tubular member which is open on one end and rigidly connected to the frame of the machine. This second tubular member leads to the top of the piercing punch by a throat-like extension thus preventing the ingress of punched-out stampings which are collected and removed through its open side by tilting of the punching machine. The punched-out stampings accumulate upwards of the card surface due to the displaceable card guide which affords the required operational clearance.

In order to enable a displacement of the card guide, a locking mechanism connecting the guide to the machine frame has to be disengaged, the displacement has to be effected, and the locking mechanism has to be engaged in the new position. Any slight noise due to the displacement of the card guide on the card table transversely to the guiding rails may be suppressed by slide contact faces of suitable plastic on the supporting surface of the card table.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective top view of a card punching machine according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a vertical section at right angles to that of Fig. 3 of a punching machine according to the invention; and

Fig. 5 is a section of a component rail of the card guide.

Referring to the drawings, the card carriage 3 carries a sample card holder 15 for holding the sample punch card. This sample card travels with the carriage past a line mark 26, indicating the respective column to be punched. The line mark 26 is secured to a bridge 19 above the punching device.

The escapement mechanism, which is not within the scope of the present invention and therefore not ,shown in the drawings, is operated by numeral keys 1 and space keys 2 to displace the card from one column to the next adjacent column. It controls the step-by-step escapement travel of the card carriage 3, whichis spring-loaded towards the left. The card carriage 3 grips the narrow edge of a card 6 with spring-loaded claws 4 and 5 spaced in escapement direction on opposite sides or the hole punching set 7. The hole punching device 7, extending parallel to the columns, is operable only for one section of each punch card; the successive sections of one card constitute a continuation of their columns.

' Hole punching set 7 and bottom die 8 are assembled in a block construction. They represent the actual punching device, the various single-hole punches being operated and/or controlled and worked in upward direction from the botttom by the numeral keys 1 in a known manner.

The engaging points on claw members 4 and 5, slidable in longitudinal grooves 28 of the card table '10,

i sound damping effect is provided to avoid sliding of the are adjusted in height in such a ,rnanner as to give to punch card 6 in their grip a slight rest position onthe card table 10, thus enabling its passage through slot 11 between hole-punch guide 9 and bottom die 8. Slot 11 extends to the rear and to the front so far that the first as well as .the last section on the punch card 6 may be placed in punching position underneath the punchset 7.- The punch card 6 is held for punching of any desired section by two guide rail assemblies spaced by one card width; These guide rail assemblies snugly overlying the card table 10, comprise each two component rails 12', 12" and 13', 13", respectively, extending to the left and to the right of the punching device 7. The com-' ponent rails are connected to each other by two U- shaped bails 12 and 13, rigid with the ends of a tubular member 15 which combines the parts to the card guide proper. The bails 12 and 13 and the tubular member 15 are slotted at the bottom and the punching device is positioned in the slot, permitting a sliding movement of the card guide along these parts in column direction.

A guide pin 17 on the tubular member 15 serves to guide a catch collar 18, the centering extension 18' of which is pressed upward by a spring into cylindrical enlargements 19', which act as catches, in a slot 19" of a bridge 19 rigidly connected with the machine frame. The lower end of spring 20 is supported by the tubular member 15, thereby producing the elastic force urging the bails 12 and 13 toward the card table 10. A bushing 25, flattened over the width of the slot 19'" and proiecting through it, rests on a collar 18" of the catch collar 18 and supports an operating knob 21. On depression the knob 21 pushes the centering extension 18" of catch collar 18 downward from catch 19', thus enabling the displacement of the card guide in columndirection which may be arrested in a different catch 19 through release of the knob 21. The different catches 19'--in the present example only two--are spaced by the length of a card section. The catches 19' are arranged in column direction in such a manner as to ensure the positioning of the card section corresponding to the respective catch 19' exactly underneath the hole punch set 7. The punched-out stampings leaving hole punch 8 in upward feed pass through a slot 22" of a tubular member 22 and are collected in the tubular member 22, thus preventing their straying over the punched card and the card table. The tubular member 22 has a throat-like extension 22 extending downward from the slot 22", which extension 22 is inserted in a stampingproof manner on top of the punching device to which it is connected by the bridge 19. The tubular member 15 of the card guide embraces the particle collecting bin 22 which is open at the rear of the punching machine, as shown at 28, so that a slight tilting of that lightweight design supported by any conventional desk empties the bin 22. Both longitudinal holes 27 and 27 are covered at the inside by an inspection window 14 extending over the path of the card guide aligned with openings 15 and 15" of the tubular member 15 embracing the collecting tubular bin 22. Such an arrangement of the stamping bin 22, which is a most suitable approach tothe required direction of punching action upward from the bottom, is also applicable in an adapted manner to punching machines working in a different punching direction.

Toeach of the component rails 12' and 12" and 13' and 13", respectively, a shoe-like member 23, 23' 24 and 24 respectively, of any suitable plastic material with metal component rails on the metal card table 10 which easily might case frictional vibrations with disturbing high-level audible frequencies- In operation, the card 6 is first secured in the position shown in Fig. 1 by setting the knob 21 in the position shown. The knob will be secured in this position by the action of the spring20, surrounding the pin 17, Fig. 4. The spring 20 will simultaneously exert a pressure through the tubular member 15 and the bails i2, 13 on the guides 32', 12", 13' and 13", urging these guides towards the card table 10. The first card section is now ready for cooperation with the hole punching mechanism 7.

A selected key is now depressed to punch the desired hole in the first column of the first card section and to operate subsequently the escapement to advance the card to the second column of the first card section. Alternatively, depression of one of the advance keys 2 will operate the escapement. This alternative operation of the keyboard and the escapement is continued until the last column of the first card section has been completed.

The knob 21 is now depressed, disengaging the centering extension 18' of the collar 18 from the setting position as shown in Fig. 1. Now the tubular member 15, carrying the card guides 12', 12", 13' and 13", can be freely moved to the position indicated by 19 in Figs. l and 4. This will result in shifting the next card section into position for punching. During this shifting motion thecard will slide along the claw members 4, which at all times engage the card section positioned to cooperate with the punching mechanism.

The second card section is now completed by alternative operation of the punching mechanism 7 and the escapement. If the card has more than two sections, the successive sections are moved into position for punching by the manipulation of the knob 21 and then subjected to the punching operation.

Since many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely difierent embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In a card punching machine for punch cards with two or more sections displaced in the direction of the columns on the card, said machine including a card table having a dimension in the direction of the columns on the card which exceeds the dimension of one card plus one card section, both taken in the direction of the columns on the card and a card feed carriage mounted on the card table and adapted to advance in a step-by-step motion in the direction of the lines on the card, in combination, a stationary punching device containing one punch for each line along one column of one section of the cards and having a card-accommodating slot which is longer than one card by at least the dimension of one card section in column direction, card gripping members on the card feed carriage positioned to grip the card edges which are parallel with the card columns and adapted to permit sliding of the card in the direction of the col umns on the card, and a pair of card guides, each of said card guides having two aligned component rails, said card guide rails being mutually spaced and positioned on said table to extend along and directly engage the edges of the card which are parallel to the lines on the card, said card guide rails being spring-pressed towards said table, said card guide rails being slidably mounted in the direction of the columns on the card by at least the dimension of one card section in column direction.

2. A card punching machine as claimed in claim 1, in

which each of said card guides further comprising a substantially urshaped bail connecting said two component rails, a tubular member rigid with both said U-shaped bails, and a stationary support for said tubular member, said tubular member being adapted to axially slide on said stationary support in the direction or" the columns on the card.

3. A card punching machine as claimed in claim 2, in which said stationary member is a hollow cylinder which has a downwardly directed slot aligned with the discharge opening of the punching device, whereby said hollow cylinder receives the discarded stampings from the punch cards, said hollow cylinder having a stamping discharge opening extending over at least a part of one of its bases.

4. A card punching machine as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a pin rigid with said tubular member and extending through a slot in a stationary member, a 15 catch slidable on said pin adapted to selectively engage the stationary member in at least two positions spaced one card section apart, a spring urging said catch towards its engaging positions, said spring simultaneously urging said component rails towards said table, and manually operated adjusting means on said pin to release said catch against the action of said spring and to slide said pin along the slot from one of the catch-engaging positions to another catch-engaging position.

5. A card punching machine as claimed in claim 2, in which the faces of the said component rails adjacent to said table are covered with a layer of sound-attenuating 10 material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNi-TED STATES PATENTS 1,852,262 Crumrine Apr. 5, 1932 1,976,352 Maul Oct. 9, 1934 2,210,552 Maul Aug. 6, 1940 2,708,971 Maul May 24, 1955 

